1 Kings 13:7-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 13:1-10

Here is, I. A messenger sent to Jeroboam, to signify to him God's displeasure against his idolatry, 1 Kgs. 13:1. The army of Judah that aimed to ruin him was countermanded, and might not draw a sword against him (1 Kgs. 12:24); but a prophet of Judah is, instead thereof, sent to reclaim him from his evil way, and is sent in time, while he is but dedicating his altar, before his heart is hardened by the deceitfulness of his sin; for God delights not in the death of sinners, but would rather... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:7

And the king said unto the man of God, come home with me, and refresh thyself ,.... By eating a meal with him, after such a journey he had taken, and delivered his prophecies, and put up his prayers for the king: and I will give thee a reward ; for his prayers, by means of which his hand was restored to him; but takes no notice of the Lord, the author of this miraculous cure, nor expresses the least degree of thankfulness and gratitude to him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:8

And the man of God said unto the king ,.... In answer to his civility to him, to assure him it was not out of contempt to him, or ill will to him, or slight of his favour, but in obedience to the will of God: if thou wilt give half of thine house ; of the riches in it, and even of his kingdom: I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place ; this idolatrous place; the reason follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:9

For so it was charged me by the word of the Lord ,.... The command of the Lord, by which he came to Bethel, and cried against the altar there, 1 Kings 13:1 . saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest : signifying that no communion was to be had with idolaters, nor any example to be set and followed; but the way to them, and to their idolatry, was to be shunned and avoided. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:10

So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. Neither ate nor drank with the king, though that is not expressed; nor did he go back the same way he came; but in each particular observed the divine command, and was obedient to it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 13:7

Come home with me - and I will give thee a reward - Come and be one of my priests, and I will give thee a proper salary. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 13:9

For so it was charged me - Eat no bread , etc. - That is, Have no kind of communication with those idolaters. He was charged also not to return by the way that he came; probably lest the account of what was done should have reached the ears of any of the people through whom he had passed, and he suffer inconveniences on the account, either by persecution from the idolaters, or from curious people delaying him, in order to cause him to give an account of the transactions... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 13:1-10

I. THE PRETENSIONS OF ERROR DEEPEN ITS SHAME . The idolatrous altar was being solemnly consecrated. The people's eyes were dazzled with the splendour of the priestly and regal display. Jeroboam himself stood by the altar to offer incense. And then the cry arose which arrested every ear and thrilled through every soul. 1 . The attempt to give importance to the new idolatry only broadened the mark for God's rebuke : it simply lent emphasis to His condemnation. They had come... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 13:2-8

Protest and Excommunication. The sin of Jeroboam, the schism which he inaugurated in person at the first feast of tabernacles held in Bethel, was not consummated without protest. When the king, possibly in the "golden garments" of the priesthood, mounted the altar platform and stood before the vast multitude assembled to witness this first great function of the new regime, a messenger of God, sent from Judah, the seat of the true religion, lifted up his voice and witnessed against these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 13:7

And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself [with food, ablutions, etc. We are hardly justified in seeing in these words (with Bähr and Keil) an attempt to "gain the prophet over to his side by friendliness," and to render his threat harmless in the eyes of the people. The king doubtless may have hoped that it would "blunt the edge of the prophet's denunciation of his schismatical altar" (Wordsworth); but this was not the object, or not the sole object, with... read more

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